Connect with us

Published

on

The Plymouth shootings may be reclassified as a terror attack, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.

In a statement, the force said the initial decision not to state Jake Davison‘s spree as terrorism was made by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Network.

But following investigations into Davison’s links to the “incel” movement – which stands for involuntarily celibate – this status may be changed.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Plymouth killings: One minute silence held

In a 12-minute attack on Thursday evening, Davison, 22, killed five people with a shotgun before taking his own life.

He started by shooting his mother, Maxine Davison, 51, in Keyham before going on to kill Sophie Martyn, three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43.

Davison then fatally shot Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, before turning the weapon on himself.

After the attack, Devon and Cornwall Police chief constable Shaun Sawyer said: “We are not considering terrorism or a relationship with any far-right group.”

More on Jake Davison

In a statement on Monday, a force spokeswoman said: “The decision that this incident is not a terrorist incident was made by the National Counter Terrorism Network following a referral from Devon and Cornwall Police.

“The status of this will be kept under continual review and a further referral made should new information come to light.

 Maxine Davison
Image:
Jake Davison’s mother Maxine was his first victim
Lee and Sophie Martyn died in the shooting
Image:
Lee Martyn and his three-year-old daughter Sophie also died in the shootings

“We are aware of Davison’s interest and engagement with the Incel movement and his use of various online platforms, and this forms a key strand within the ongoing police investigation.”

Under UK law, terrorism is defined as: “Use or threat of action, both in and outside of the UK, designed to influence any international government organisation or to intimidate the public. It must also be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.”

Stephen Washington, 59, was among those killed in the Keyham shooting
Image:
Stephen Washington also lost his life
Kate Shepherd died in hospital after she was gunned down by Davison
Image:
Victim Kate Shepherd died in hospital

Following the shooting, there were discussions about whether incidents fuelled by the “incel” ideology should be classified as terrorism.

Former chief prosecutor in the North West, Nazir Afzal, said: “That kind of extreme misogyny of the type we have seen here and in terms of the incel community is a threat to all women and, ultimately, to all our communities.”

Jonathan Hall QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, said: “It fits rather uneasily into the way the authorities understand ideologies. It seems part of right-wing terrorism but it is not really. In fact, it is quite separate from it. It is a different sort of ideology.”

Students light candles at a tribute for victims, at one of nine crime scenes after a series of drive-by shootings that left 7 people dead, in the Isla Vista neighborhood of Santa Barbara, California May 26, 2014. Twenty-two year old Elliot Rodger killed six people before taking his own life in a rampage through a California college town shortly after he posted a threatening video railing against women, police said on Saturday. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST)
Image:
Elliot Rodger killed six people in 2014

Other attacks motivated by the “incel” ideology include the 2014 stabbings and shootings by Elliot Rodger, 22, which killed six people in Isla Vista, California.

Last month Tres Genco, 21, from Ohio, was charged for plotting a mass shooting targeting women at sororities, and has described himself as an “incel”.

Continue Reading

UK

Gatwick: What are your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Published

on

By

Gatwick: What are your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal has been heavily disrupted after a “suspected prohibited item” was discovered in luggage, leaving passengers in limbo.

Some passengers were reportedly left on planes that weren’t taking off, while others were stranded in the airport for hours after Gatwick made the announcement this morning.

Sussex Police said the explosive ordnance disposal team was being sent in “as a precaution” and a security cordon was put in place.

It now says the incident has been resolved and cleared – but warned there were still “some delays and cancellations”.

Gatwick Airport latest updates

The airport, which is the UK’s second busiest, was set to see off some 316 departing flights today, according to aviation analytics website Cirium.

But what are the rights of passengers if their flights are delayed or cancelled?

More on Gatwick

Your rights during delays

Your flight is covered by UK law if it departs from a UK airport, arrives at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrives at an EU airport on a UK airline.

When it comes to significant delays, UK law says airlines must provide you with care and assistance.

Significant delays are classed as:

  • More than two hours for short-haul flights of under 1,500km (932 miles)
  • More than three hours for medium-haul flights of 1,500km-3,500km (932-2,175 miles)
  • More than four hours for long-haul flights of over 3,500km

Here’s what the law says the airline must provide you with until it is able to fly you to your destination:

  • A reasonable amount of food and drink
  • A means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls)
  • Accommodation, if you are re-routed the next day
  • Transport to and from the accommodation (or your home, if you are able to return there)

It says this must be provided for you for however long delays last, irrespective of what has caused them.

Passengers facing delays have been handed blankets by staff at the airport
Image:
Passengers facing delays have been handed blankets by staff at the airport

Airlines may not always be able to arrange care and assistance for all passengers during major disruptions directly, but the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says you can organise the things listed for yourself and then claim the cost back from your airline later if you keep every receipt and do not spend more than is deemed reasonable.

In other words, don’t splash out on things like alcohol and luxury hotels during your wait and expect to claim your money back later.

What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, the airline must either give you a refund or book you on an alternative flight.

You can get your money back for all parts of a ticket you haven’t used, the CAA says.

If you have booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, for example, you can get the full cost of the return ticket back from your airline.

“If you are a transfer passenger and you have already completed part of your journey, you are also entitled to a flight back to your original departure point when your connecting flight is cancelled and you decide not to continue your journey,” it adds.

If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight – whether it is the next available one, or a flight at an alternative, later date.

If another airline is flying significantly sooner than yours is able to offer, you may have the right to be booked onto a rival airline’s flight, but this has to be negotiated with the company.

On last-minute cancellations, Naveen Dittakavi, founder and chief executive of Next Vacay, said: “If you’re already at the airport once the flight is cancelled, the best thing you can do is stay calm – you are protected against many things that might go wrong.

“Try calling the airline helpline rather than waiting to speak directly with the airport staff. The helpline is often more flexible and may provide you with an e-credit or voucher, or flexibility to change your travel dates quickly.”

Can you get compensation?

In some cases, airlines may have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late – but that is only if the delay is deemed to be your airline’s fault.

Disruptions caused by things deemed “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible for compensation, according to the CAA.

Continue Reading

UK

Downing Street indicates Netanyahu would be arrested in UK after ICC warrant

Published

on

By

Downing Street indicates Netanyahu would be arrested in UK after ICC warrant

Downing Street has indicated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he arrived on British soil following an international arrest warrant being issued for him.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence secretary Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza.

The UK government was reluctant to commit to saying Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK but Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said the government would “fulfil its legal obligations” in relation to the arrest warrant.

“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law, and indeed international law,” he said.

He added the domestic process linked to ICC arrest warrants has never been used to date by the UK because the country has never been visited by anyone wanted by the international court.

Earlier on Friday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it “wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment” on the processes involved as the ICC is independent, although the UK is a member.

She told Sky News: “We’ve always respected the importance of international law, but in the majority of the cases that they pursue, they don’t become part of the British legal process.

“What I can say is that obviously, the UK government’s position remains that we believe the focus should be on getting a ceasefire in Gaza.”

However, Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee in parliament, told Sky News: “If Netanyahu comes to Britain, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him under the warrant from the ICC.

“Not really a question of should, we are required to because we are members of the ICC.”

After winning July’s election the government said it would not oppose the ICC’s right to issue the warrants.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant (right). File pic: Reuters
Image:
Netanyahu and Gallant (right) have arrest warrants against them. File pic: Reuters

Ireland, France and Italy have signalled they would arrest Netanyahu if he came to their countries.

Asked if police would arrest the Israeli leader in Ireland, Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants.”

Germany said it would make a decision if Netanyahu came to Germany but said it is one of the “biggest supporters of the ICC”, partly as a result of history.

A German government spokesman said: “At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel.”

An ICC arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri, the mastermind behind the 7 October attacks in Israel, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israel claims Al Masri was killed earlier this year but the ICC said that has not been confirmed, so it was issuing the arrest warrant.

Netanyahu’s office said the warrants against him and Gallant were “antisemitic” and said Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions”.

Neither Israel nor the US are members of the ICC. Israel has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes in Gaza.

Read more:
What satellite images tell us about North Gaza

Hamas ready for Gaza ceasefire ‘immediately’

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Why have arrest warrants been issued?

US President Joe Biden described the warrants against Israeli leaders as “outrageous”, adding: “Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas.”

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were a “mark of shame” for the ICC.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the ICC’s decision sent a “terrible message”.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Netanyahu to visit Hungary and he would guarantee the arrest warrant would “not be observed”.

The ICC originally said it was seeking arrest warrants for the three men in May for the alleged crimes and on Thursday announced that it had rejected challenges by Israel and issued warrants of arrest.

In its update, the ICC said it found “reasonable grounds to believe” that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for alleged crimes.

These, the court said, include “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”.

It is the first time a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice.

Continue Reading

UK

Gatwick Airport evacuates ‘large part’ of South Terminal due to ‘security incident’

Published

on

By

Gatwick Airport evacuates 'large part' of South Terminal due to 'security incident'

A large part of Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal has been evacuated after a “suspected prohibited item” was discovered in luggage and a bomb disposal team has been deployed, police said.

Sussex Police said the explosive ordnance disposal team was being sent in “as a precaution” and a security cordon is in place.

The airport, which is the UK’s second busiest, said the terminal was evacuated after a “security incident”.

In a post on X, it said: “Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority.

“We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

It said the North Terminal was still operating normally.

Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of travellers heading away from the terminal building.

“Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they’re evacuating the entire airport,” one passenger said.

“Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1,000s all over the streets and carparks waiting.”

Another said passengers near the gates were being told to stay there and not go back to the departure lounge.

Gatwick Express said its trains were not calling at Gatwick Airport.

“Gatwick Airport will not be served until further notice,” it tweeted.

“This is due to the police and emergency services dealing with an incident at the airport.

“At present, the station and airport are being evacuated whilst the police are dealing with an incident. We would recommend delaying your journey until later this morning.”

It said local buses were also affected and would be unable to run to the airport.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Continue Reading

Trending